Steering-post support for traction machines



v J. MADER. STEERING POST SUPPORT FOR TRACTION MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED .IULY] 1919.

Patented May 23, 1922.

UNITED STATES earner JOSEPH MADER, 01 MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO BEEMAN TRACTOR COMPANY, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

STEERING-POST SUPPORT FOR TRACTIQN MACHINES.

Application filed July '7,

T 0 all 10 710m it may concern:

Be it known that I Josnrn Manna, a citizen of the United States, resident of Minneapolis, county of Hennepiin State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering-Post vSupports for Traction Machines ot which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an attachment by means of which the steering posts and the gr0und-working implement connected therewith may be raised and supported. in a raised position.

A further object is to provide a supporting means for the steering posts which will allow them to be raised and lowered quickly for the purpose of loosening and disengaging any refuse or rubbish which may be clinging to the teeth of the ground-working implement.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description.

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, v

Figure 1 is a side elevation of .a traction machine embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view, showing the supporting device for the steering posts in position for use,

Figure 3 is a similar view, showing the steering posts raised and the supporting device in engagement therewith,

Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 3, showing another position of the supporting device when the steering posts are raised for disengagement there-from,

Figures 5 and 6 are detail views of the supporting device.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional View of the steering posts. a

In the drawing, 2 represents a traction machine of the garden type. 3 are the steering posts pivoted at 4 on the machine for vertical movement and 5 is a bracket mounted on the machine and having a hole 6 there in in which a bolt 7 is slidable. A nut and washer '8 are mounted on the upper end of this bolt and a compression spring 9 is interposed between the washer and the bracket 5. The lower end of the bolt passes through an Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1922.

1919. Serial no. 308,923.

opening 10 in the casting ll in which the steering posts are mounted. A bolt 7 fits loosely within this hole and cotter pins 12 are inserted into holes in the bolt and have hearings on the upper and undersides ot the casting for securing the bolt and casting together while permitting freedom of oscillation of the bolt in the socket. A bar 13 is pivoted. at 14C on the bracket 5 and has a hook 15 at its lower end in position to engage the casting 11 for supporting the casting and the steering posts in their raised position. This bar 13 has a plurality of holes 16 in its upper end. for vertical adjustment on the bracket. It is desirable in a machine of this kind to provide a means for automatically engaging the hook with the casting or disengaging it theretrom without the necessity of providing a direct connection with the handle bars of the steering post and with this end in view I provide a latch 17 having angled end portions 18 and 19 which project beyond the edge of the bar 18 and the hook 15. This latch is held in frictional engagement with the bar by means of a bolt 20 and a compression spring 21 thereon, the spring having sufiicient tension to hold the latch in its adjusted positions but will allow it to oscillate freely when struck by the casting in which the steering posts are mounted. The steering posts have connections 22 with the ground-working implement frame 23 for lifting the implement; out of the ground whenever it is desired to cease cultivating or plowing or when it may be desired to clean the teeth of the implement of corn butts, grass or other rubbish which may be clinging thereto. Normally the spring 9 will sup port the steering posts yieldingl g allowing the operator oi the machine to press downwardly on the handle bars of the implement and force the ground-working implement into the soil to the desired depth. In fact, the operator of the machine has perfect control over the movement of the implement, pressing the teeth into the soil or raising them asoccasion may require. This position of the steering posts and supporting casting is indicated in Figure 2, the lower arm 19 of the latch preventing the hook from swinging forward and engaging with the pivoted casting.

In Figure 3 the steering posts are shown raised to the position they would assume when the ground-Working implement is lifted clear of the soil, the hook being in engagement with the casting and supporting the implement out of contact with the ground. When the operator desires to dis engage the steering posts he will raise them and the casting until the latter contacts with the arm 18 and swings the latch forwardly into contact with the casting. Downward movement of the posts will then push the supporting hook out of the path of the casting and allow the implement to be dropped back upon the ground, the latch and hook assuming the position shown in Figure 2; If it is desired to clear the teeth of the groundworking implement by jerking the posts and the implement up and down, the operator may do this by engaging the casting first with the arm 18 and then with the middle portion of the latch, the stroke of the posts being suflicient to loosen the rubbish from the implement without engaging the casting with the supporting hook.

In the normal working position the casting contacts with the latch, as shown in Figure 2, and the hook is held thereby out of engagement with the casting. which is also slightly below the level of the hook. In case, however, the operator raises the steering posts to lift the implement to the point shown in Figure 3, the hook will drop by gravity in under the casting and support it and the posts from the bracket 5. l f the operator desires to disengage the hook he will raise the casting into contact with the arm 18, whereupon the latch will be swung forwardly into contact with the casting, as shown in Figure 4, and then upon lowering the posts the hook will be pushed out of the path of the casting and the post may then be returned to the position shown in Figure 2 or, if it is desired to work the posts up and down to free the implement of rubbish or grass, the downward stroke will be a little shorter to prevent the hook from drop ping in underthe casting when the posts are raised. In this way the operator. without any manipulation by hand of the hook and latch and by simply moving the posts up and down, can lift and lock them in an elevated position and release them in a similar manner or by merely limiting the downward movement can work the posts up and down to free the implement of any rubbish that may be clinging thereto.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination, with a frame having supporting means, of a steering device mounted thereon for vertical. oscillation, means for supporting said device when raised to a predetermined point, and means co-operating with said supporting means for tripping it to release said steering device on continued upward movement thereof.

The combination, with a frame having supporting means, of a steering post pivoted thereon for vertical movement on a horizontal axis, a ground-working implement connected with said post, means carried by said frame for supporting said post and implement in a raised position, said means becoming automatically operative when said post is raised to a predetermined point and means for tripping said supporting means by the continued upward movement of said post.

The combination, with a frame having supporting means, of steering posts mounted thereon for vertical movement on a horizon tal axis, a pivoted hook for supporting said posts in a raised position and means actuated by the upward movement of said posts beyond such position for tripping said book.

4. The combination, with a frame having supporting means and ground-working implements connected with said frame, a steer- .ing post mounted for vertical oscillation on a horizontal pivot, means connecting said post with said implement, a hook device mounted to support said post and implement when raised to a predetermined point, and a latch mounted to be actuated by the move ment of said post for tripping said hook.

5. The combination, with a frame having supporting means and ground-working implen'i-ents connected with saidframe, a steering post mounted for vertical oscillation on a horizontal pivot, means connecting said post with said implement, a hook device mounted to support said post and implement when raised to a predetermined point, a

latch pivoted on said hook and having ends arranged to be engaged and actuated by the vertical. movement of saidpost for tripping said hook.

G. The combination, with a frame having supporting means, of a ground-working implement connected with said frame, a casting having a horizontal pivot on said frame, steering posts mounted in said casting, means connecting said posts with said implement, means for engaging said casting for supporting it and said postsand implement in a raised position, and means in the path of said casting to be actuated thereby for tripping said supporting means to release said casting and-posts.

7 The combination, with a frame having supporting means and a ground-working implement connected with said frame, of a casting having a horizontal pivot on said frame, a bracket mounted on said frame, steering posts mounted in said casting and connected with said implement for raising it out of the ground, means mounted on said bracket for supporting said casting and steering post when raised, and means actuated by the movement of said posts for tripping said supporting means.

8. The combination, with a frame having carrying wheels and'a ground-working im plement connected therewith, of steering posts having a horizontal pivot on said frame and connected with said implement, a hook device mounted to support said posts and implement in a raised position, a springpressed latch mounted on said hook device and having means engaged and actuated by the movement of said posts tor tripping said liool; device or allowing it to move by gravity to its supporting position.

The combination, with a frame having carrying wheels and ground-Working implement i-onnected thereivit steering posts having a horizontal pivot on said frame and connected with said implement, a hook device mounted to support said posts and ii moment in a raised position, a latch yieldingly mminted on said hook device and having projecting end portions in position to be engaged and actuated by the vertical mvemem of said posts, said latch device operating to trip said hook and release said posts. 10. The combination, with a frame having carrying wheels and a steering post mounted thereon and a ground-working implement connected with said tra me and with said post for vertical movement therewith, of a casting having a horizontal pivot on said frame and wherein said post is mounted, a pivotally supported hook device adapted to swing by gravity under said casting for supporting it and said post and implement in raised position, and means in the path of said casting and actuated by the vertical movement thereof fortripping said hook device and allowing it to drop by gravity to its supporting position when said casting has been lowered to a predetermined point and said casting having freedom of up and down movement above said predetermined point without allowing said hook to return to its supporting position,

ll. The combination, with a frame and a supporting means therefor, ot a steering de; vice mounted for vertical movement on said. frame, a hook for supporting said steering device in a raised position, and means actuated by the movement of said steering device beyond such position for tripping said hook.

I lhe combination, with a frame having supporting wheels, of: a steering device mounted tor oscillation thereon, means for supporting said steering device when raised to a predetermined point, and a latch device co-operating with said supporting means for tripping it to release said steering device upon continued upward movement thereof.

The combination. with a frame having supportingmeans, of a steering device mounted for oscillation thereon, means for supporting said steering device when raised to a predetermined point, means cooperating with said supporting means for tripping it to release said steering device upon continued upward movement thereof, limited downward movement of said steering device preventing said means from assuming its supporting position for the continued up and down movement of said steering device, for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 28 day oi June 1919.

JOSEPH MADER. 

